Association between inter-arm difference in SBP and central blood pressure in a Beijing community cohort.

OBJECTIVE The inter-arm SBP difference (IASBPD) can serve as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between IASBPD and central blood pressure (CBP). METHODS The study cohort comprised of 7842 eligible individuals. Their BPs were assessed simultaneously in both arms using an Omron BP-203RPEIII vascular profiler, and the IASBPD was measured as the absolute difference in these values (absolute value of left minus right). The CBP was noninvasively measured using an Omron HEM-9000AI device. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the association between the central SBP (cSBP) and the IASBPD. RESULTS An IASBPD of ≥10 mmHg was positively associated with the cSBP (β = 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-3.48; P < 0.001). The interaction test showed no significant interactions between the IASBPD and any of the assessed covariates (age group; sex; BMI; smoking status; heart rate group; the presence of hypertension, diabetes, or CVD; and antihypertensive drug use) when the cSBP was used as the outcome in the subgroup analysis. CONCLUSION The mechanism underlying the ability of the IASBPD to predict CVD may partly involve an increase in the CBP.